Rolling her eyes, she pulled out a loose stone. It scraped against the tree trunk as it squealed against the other stones.
“Wait,” he said, and knelt beside her. He hadn’t checked that low yesterday, hadn’t been able to since he’d been on the bridge. He had a good reach, thanks to his long arms. It was a reach he had used to his advantage more than once, but this particular stone was in a spot that one could only get to it from where she sat.
“Ahah,” she gasped as she lifted a heavy stone.
“What is it?” he asked as he tilted his head to get a better look.
Grace moved slowly, sliding her hands into the bridge to a compartment below, and she gasped as her eyes met his.
“What?” he demanded, and watched as she pulled out an envelope. His fingers reached for it before he could think, and he stared blankly as she yanked it away.
“The hell you will,” she snapped. “It was my idea, I found it. Go wait over there,” she ordered, and standing up, she opened the envelope, and eased out a folded piece of paper.
Grudgingly, Kilian leaned against the tree as she unfolded the paper and read silently.
Her smile was quick and lit up her eyes, and it was the only thing that kept him from demanding for it to be read immediately.
“Yes!” she exclaimed and threw her arms around Kilian, brushing her lips over his. Kilian slid his hands up her back, deepening the kiss and tangling his tongue with hers. She pulled back before he could get a full taste of her, leaving him yearning for more. She looked back at the note to read it again. Her stance relaxed as her eyes darted over the words.
“What does it say?” he asked, a bit dazed; he was glad he was leaning against the tree. His heart beat against his ribs fast, and he craved more of her.
“And they clung to their island, like their faith,” Grace whispered.
“What does that mean?” he asked as he pulled out his travel shovel from his car. Snapping it open, he locked it in place and dug his tires out.
“I’m not sure yet,” she whispered, and remained at the tree, staring at the note. Her eyes were shining with this new clue. Kilian shook his head. He wanted to see where all this would lead as well, but they wouldn’t get far until his car was free for them to drive.
He’d freed both of the back tires when Grace finally folded the note back up and put it back in the envelope. She shoved it into her back pocket, drawing his attention from the mud, and back to her lean legs; and he found himself insanely jealous of the envelope and of her jeans.
“Is there anything I can do to help?”
He held out the shovel. “Hold this for a minute. I’m going to back out.”
Grace took the shovel from his hand and cocked her head. “Are you okay?”
“Of course I am,” he said, turning away from her. “Why wouldn’t I be?”
“You’re gruffer than usual.”
Stepping to the driver's door, he glanced over at her. “I’m fine. I was just doing a lot of shoveling.”
“Well, let’s hope you’ve done enough.”
Kilian jumped into his car and gunned it in reverse. His tires didn’t want to get traction at first, but finally he got the car onto the road. Grace walked to him, the shovel folded up again as he put the car in park. Grace set the shovel under the back of her seat before sitting down in the passenger seat.
“You know where we’re going next?”
“Yes,” she said, flashing another smile. “We need a boat.”
17
Grace satin the passenger seat as Kilian drove them to the coast. The winding road showed them the Irish countryside and made her fall in love with her homeland all over again.
“It would help if I knew exactly where we were going,” Kilian’s deep voice filled the car.
“Huh?” she murmured as she felt his hand settle on hers. Warmth and desire flooded her. She looked over at Kilian’s profile as he remained focused on the road.
“You said you knew where we had to go, but you didn’t tell me where we’re going.”
